Viscose-treating apparatus



Sept. 4, 1928.

S. A. NEIDICH VI SCOSE TREATING APPARATUS Filed June 30, 1.926

Patented Sept. 4, I928.

was

PTENT VISCOSE-TREATING APPARATUS.

Application filed June 30, 1925. Serial No. 119,591.

My invention relates to the manufacture of filaments by projecting liquid viscose (cellulose sulphocarbonate or thiocarbonate) through orifices into a coagulating medium,

for instance a bath containing chemicals in aqueous solution which coagulate the viscose as semi-solid impure cellulose hydrate complexes. Such a solution may contain a suitable acid, for instance sulphuric or hy- 1o drochloric acid or an acid salt such as sodium bisulphite or ammonium chloride either with or without neutral salts or dehydrators, or both.

All such viscose products are amorphous and primarily so soft and impressionable that they may be marred by handling and must be dehydrated and desiccated to render them firm enough in texture for commercial use. Ordinarily, the .filaments are withdrawn from the coagulating bath by frictional engagement with a roller or rollers. However, such means for discharging the filaments from such baths tend to mar the filaments by stretching and flattening them, whereas,

it is highly desirable to maintain such filaments, of uniform diameter and cylindrical, so that the dried filaments manifest a uniform lustre and brilliance; it being noted that any flattened or indented portion of such a filament is manifested by reflection of light therefrom in a manner different from 'the normal cylindrical surface thereof.

Moreover, such roller filament discharging means, andall other discharging means which must be maintained-in mot-ion are objectionable because of the'cost of the operation and maintenance thereof. Therefore, it is the object and effect of my invention to provide what may be termed static, as distinguished from such kinetic, means for progressing a viscose filament from the region where it is coagulated to the region where it may be wound upon a spool or otherwise disposed for further treatment.

As hereinafter described, my jinvention includes means to utilize movement of a coagulating fluid to effect the desired movement of the filament through and from such liquid; particularly, an automatically operative ejecting device, or series of devices, of the general character of what is known to the chemical trade as an aspirator, wherein movement of the liquid through a conduit having a restricted passageway 'creates a partial vacuum to suck the filament to and through such passageway.

. phosphate.

My invention includes the various noyel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings; Fig-1 is a plan view of 60 a viscose filament coagulating apparatus conveniently embodying my improvement.

Fig. II is a vertical sectional view of said apparatus taken on the line II-II in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a fragmentary vertical sec- .three .are shown in Fig. I and but one is shown in Fig. II, each including a restricted '80 passageway 4, through which the viscose fila ment 5 may be automatically longitudinally progressed by and with the fluid 2which gravitates through said conduit 3 and passageway 4. Said filament 5 is formed of viscose supplied through the pipe 7 and extruded through the spinneret 8; the latter having the guide tube 9 arranged to automatically guide said filament into said passageway 4.

As above contemplated, the construction and arrangement of the filament ejecting means above described are's'uch that a-partial vacuum is created at the upper end of said passageway 4; by the downward flow of the fluid 2 therethrough, which is effective to engage and progress said filament 5 longitudinally through saidpassagewa by and with said fluid 2. Said fluid an the filament which it thus s conveys, gravitate into the conduit 11. In the form indicated, which is adapted to conduct a liquid which is not substantially volatile, said conduit is a narrow trough, open at the top and inclined downwardly toward the left in Fig. II, so that the coagulating medium 2 gravitatestherethrough to the outlet 12. Said conduit 11, is conveniently formed of molded hard rubber and three-eighths of an inch wide one and a half inches deep, and six 11 feet long. I

If it is desired to heat the coagulating medium 2 to the point of its vaporization or to employ a vaporous or gaseous coagulating medium; the conduits 11 may be provided with covers 16"to confine the vapor or gas of such a medium, and such inelosed conduits may be advantageously employed even with an aqueous solution, to exclude dust from such solution and prevent its evaporatlOIl. i

However, as shown in Fig. IV, the conduit 3 may discharge into a cylindrical conduit 17, in lieu of a trough; and such conduit 17 may be a flexible rubber tube, directly connected with the nozzle 18 on said conduit 3. I

When discharged from the coagulating apparatus above described; the filament 5 is coagulated to a state in which it may be wound or otherwise manipulated without marring, and it may be directed around a suitable guide roller 20 to winding mechanism .l9 arranged to wind it upon suitable spools 21.

It is to be particularly noted that, in order to avoid stretching such filaments 5 it is necessary to o erate the winding mechanism to take up sai filaments at the same rate at which they are progressed through the fluid discharging mechanism above described. Therefore, I find it desirable to operate said winding mechanism by an electric motor 22 and to so coordinate the operation of said motor with the operation of the filament ejecting mechanism aforesaid that the motor is stopped if and when the rate of take-up tends to exceed the rate of progression of the filament through the coagulating device. A modified. form of m invention is disclosed in application Serial No. 117,366, filed June 21, 1926, for improvement in viscose treating ap aratus.

The liqui 2 discharged with said filament 5 may be caught in the receptacle 24 and returned to said tank 1, b means of the pipe 25 and the pump 26. owever, the coagulating medium may be otherwise disposed and conserved.

I prefer to use the liquid coagulating medium aforesaid containing PO ions, because the latter have a desulphurizing effect u on the filament, as set forth at length in etters Patent of the United States No. 1,576,- 529 granted to William Mendel March 16, r1926. However, any other fluid having .a chemical effect upon the viscose filament may be employed, as the vehicle for conveying it as above described, or a fluid which is chemically inert with reference to the filament may be used as such vehicle; for instance, Water or air.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein,-without departing from the esseninsane tial features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In viscose treating apparatus; means constructed and arranged to automatically, longitudinally, progress a viscose filament by a fluid; comprising a conduit and means arranged to cause said fluid to progress thru said conduit; said conduit having a short restricted passageway opening into a long passageway of greater cross sectional area; and means arranged to extrude a viscose filament directly intg said restricted passageway; whereby, the rate of flow of said fluid is accelerated at said restricted passageway, and said fluid subjects said filament to maximum longitudinal stress, local to said extruding means, to progress said filament.

2. In viscose treating apparatus; means constructed and arranged to automatically, longitudinally, progress a viscose filament by an aqueous viscose coagulating fluid; comprising a conduitand means arranged to cause said fluid to progress thru said conduit; said conduit having a short restricted passageway opening into a long passageway of greater cross sectional area; and means arranged to extrude a viscose filament directly into said restricted passage.- way; whereby, the rate of flow of said fluid is accelerated at said restricted passageway, and said fluid subjects said filament to maximum longitudinal stress, local to said extruding means, to progress said filament.

3. In viscose treating apparatus; means constructed and arranged to automatically, longitudinally, progress a viscose filament by an aqueous viscose coagulating fluid containing a desulphurizing agent; comprisin a conduit and means arranged to cause said fluid to progress thru said conduit; said conduit having a short restricted passageway opening into a long passageway of greater cross sectional area; and means arranged to extrude a viscose filament directly into said restricted passageway; whereby, the rate of flow of said fluid is accelerated at said restricted passageway, and said fluid subjects said filament to maximum longttudinal stress, local to said extruding means, to progress said filament.

4. In viscose treating apparatus; means constructed and arranged to automatically, longitudinally, progress a viscose filament by a fluid; comprising a conduit and means arranged to cause said fluid to progress thru said conduit; said conduit having a short restricted passageway opening into a long passageway of greater cross sectional area; means arranged to extrude a viscose filament directly into said restricted passageway; whereby, the rate of flow of said fluid subjeets said filament to maximum longitudinal stress, local to said extruding means, to progress said filament; and means arranged to take up the filament from said-conduit lll at the same rate that it is, being progressed thrn said passageway. 7

, 5, ln viscose treating apparatus; means constructed and arranged to automatically, longitudinally, progress a viscose filament by a fluid; comprising'a conduitand means anrangedto cause said fluid to progress than said conduit ,"1 said conduit eaving short restricted passageway opening into a long passageway of greater cross sectional area;

means arranged to extmde a viscose filament directly into said restricted passageway; whereby, the rate of flow of said fluid is accelerated at said restricted passageway, and said fluid subjects said filament to maximum longitudinal stress, local to said extending means, llGL progress said filament; and mechanically operated means arranged to uplift said filament from said conduit.

ln testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed any name at Burlington, New Jersey, this ll'tli day of May, 1926. V

- l SAMUEL A, NEllDlCH, 

